Sport activity screen

ABSTRACT

A sport activity screen is disclosed for use in a selected sport to simulate the presence and position of actual players in that sport during training and practice exercises. A sports activity screen according to the present invention comprises a base unit which includes a main horizontal support bar and a plurality of bracing legs which are attached to the main horizontal support bar to support the main horizontal support bar. A sport activity screen according to the present invention also includes at least one frame structure where each said frame structure is operatively connected to the main horizontal support bar. In one embodiment, a sport activity screen according to the present invention comprises a plurality of frame structures which are operatively connected to the main horizontal support bar at spaced intervals along the length of the bar. Each frame structure comprises two spaced apart vertical members having two ends, where one end of each vertical member is operatively connected to the main horizontal support bar and where the other ends of each vertical member are joined together by a horizontal top member. Each frame structure may further comprise at least one horizontal cross member which is attached between the two vertical members at a point intermediate the two ends of those vertical members. A player simulation screen is attached to each frame structure.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims the benefit of the filing date ofProvisional Application No. 60/980,695 filed Oct. 17, 2007.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to sport activity accessories,and, more particularly, to a sports activity screen for simulation ofthe presence and position of actual players during training and practiceexercises.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Football teams, especially those in the National Football League,routinely engage in passing drills which are known as the 7 on 7 or PassSkeleton drills. Only the offensive and defensive skilled positionsengage in such drills, i.e., no offensive or defensive linemanparticipate in these drills. During these drills, NFL teams routinelyuse step ladders, garbage cans or other apparatus to simulate theoffensive and defensive linemen. This paraphernalia does not accuratelysimulate real came situations, because in real game situations, it maybe extremely difficult for the quarterback, for example, to see andthrow through and over the offensive and defensive linemen. With theparaphernalia currently used in the NFL in the 7 on 7 passing drill, itis easy to see around and over the paraphernalia currently used tosimulate the offense and defensive linemen. Additionally, by using thisarchaic paraphernalia, quarterbacks are not forced to rely on importantthrowing mechanics, and defenders are not required to give proper orpre-snap and play time reads.

It would be highly advantageous to provide apparatus for use in the 7 on7 passing drills that simulates real game conditions more accuratelythan the current apparatus which is used in such drills. This new anduseful result has been achieved by the sports screen of the presentinvention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, a sport activity screen isprovided for use in a selected sport to simulate the presence andposition of actual players in that sport during training and practiceexercises. A sport activity screen according to the present inventioncomprises a base unit having a main horizontal support bar and aplurality of bracing legs which are attached to that support bar andwhich support that support bar.

A sport activity screen according to the present invention alsocomprises at least one frame structure which is operatively connected tothe main horizontal support bar, and, in one embodiment, a sportactivity screen in accordance with the present invention comprises aplurality of frame structures which are operatively connected to themain horizontal support bar at spaced intervals along the length of thatsupport bar.

Each frame structure comprises two spaced apart vertical members withfirst and second ends where the first end of each vertical member isoperatively connected to the main horizontal support bar and where thesecond ends of each vertical member are joined together by a horizontaltop member. Each frame structure may further comprise at least onehorizontal cross member where each horizontal cross member is attachedbetween the two vertical members at a point intermediate the two ends ofthe vertical members. In one embodiment, the operative connectionbetween each frame structure and a horizontal support bar may beimplemented by interposing tension springs between the first end of eachvertical member and the main horizontal support bar. Suitable materialsfrom which each frame structure may be manufactured comprise tubularpolyvinylchloride and aluminum materials.

A sport activity screen according to the present invention furthercomprises a player simulation screen which is attached to each of theframe structures. Each player simulation screen may be fabricated from asemi-transparent plastic material such as acrylic, plexiglass, lexan orpoly-carbon. Each player simulation screen may advantageously comprisethe image of a player from sport in which the sport activity screen isbeing used.

In one embodiment, a sport activity screen in accordance with thepresent invention comprises a main horizontal support bar having twosections which are operatively connected together by a hinge to permitthe sport activity screen to be in either an open or a folded position.In this embodiment, the main horizontal support bar may further comprisea locking mechanism to keep the sport activity screen in an openposition.

A sport activity screen in accordance with the present invention may beplaced in the folded position when movement of the sport activity screenis desired. To facilitate its movement from place to place, a sportactivity screen according to the present invention may further comprisea wheel assembly for operative attachment to the main horizontal supportbar. In one embodiment, the wheel assembly may be attached proximate thecenter of the main horizontal support bar, while in another embodiment,the wheel assembly may be attached proximate an end of the mainhorizontal support bar. A sport activity screen in accordance with thepresent invention may further comprise at least one handle operativelyconnected to each end of the main horizontal support bar to facilitateits movement.

In one embodiment of the present invention, each player simulationscreen comprises a top half and a bottom half and the top and bottomhalves of the player simulation screen are pivotally connected to oneanother. In yet another embodiment of the present invention each playersimulation screen comprises a top half and a bottom half, and that theposition of each top half is adjustable with respect to its respectivebottom half. In yet a further embodiment, each player simulation screencomprises a top half and a bottom half in operative engagement with oneanother, and, in this embodiment, the top half may be disengaged fromthe bottom half of the player simulation screen.

In any of the embodiments of a sport activity screen according to thepresent invention, each player simulation screen may comprise an area onwhich information may be written. This area may, for example, comprise adry erase or chalk board.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a rear elevation view of one embodiment of a sport activityscreen in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2A is a front perspective view of the sport activity screen of FIG.1, which illustrates three player simulation screens in a position foruse and one player position screen in a position for nonuse.

FIG. 2B is a rear perspective view of a sport activity screen accordingto the present invention comprising a top half and a bottom half whichmay be disengaged from one another.

FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of the sport activity screen of FIG.1 which illustrates the sports activity screen in the folded and non-useposition.

FIG. 4 is a front perspective view of an embodiment of a sports activityscreen according to the present invention having player simulationsscreens which are life-size football players.

FIG. 5 is a perspective drawing of the operative connection between aframe structure and the main horizontal support bar in one embodiment ofa sport activity screen according to the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS

It will be appreciated that the present invention may take many formsand embodiments. In the following description, some embodiments of theinvention are described and numerous details are set forth to provide anunderstanding of the present invention. Those skilled in the art willappreciate, however, that the present invention may be practiced withoutthose details and that numerous variations and modifications from thedescribed embodiments may be possible. The following description is thusintended to illustrate and not to limit the present invention.

Referring first to FIG. 1, a sport activity screen 10 is illustratedwhich simulates the presence and position of actual players duringtraining and practice exercises. Sport activity screen 10 comprises abase unit including a main horizontal support bar 13. In one embodimentmain horizontal support bar 13 comprises two sections 13 a and 13 bwhich are connected together with hinge 19, and hinge 19 may comprise alocking mechanism to keep the main horizontal support bar 13 in the openposition as shown in FIG. 1.

Referring both to FIGS. 1 and 2, the base unit also includes a pluralityof bracing legs 14 which are attached to the main horizontal support bar13 and which support the main horizontal support bar 13 in the openposition shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. In one embodiment of the presentinvention, the bracing bars 14 are attached to the main horizontalsupport bar 13 and are placed in a position to support the mainhorizontal support bar 13 by twisting and locking them in place suchthat they are perpendicular to main horizontal support bar 13. The baseunit including the main horizontal support bar 13 and the bracing legs14 may advantageously be fabricated from any suitable lightweightmaterial, such as polyvinyl chloride or aluminum materials.

Still referring to FIG. 1, sport activity screen 10 further comprises atleast one frame structure 15, which is operatively connected to the mainhorizontal support bar 13, and in one embodiment, sport activity screen10 may comprise a plurality of frame structures 15 which are operativelyconnected to the main horizontal support bar 12 at spaced intervalsalong the length of main horizontal support bar 13. In FIG. 1, four suchframe structures 15 are illustrated. Those skilled in the art, havingthe benefit of the present disclosure, will appreciate that sportactivity screen 10 may comprise other numbers of frame structures, e.g.,two such frame structures as illustrated in FIG. 4.

With reference still to FIG. 1, each frame structure 15 comprises twospaced apart vertical members 15 a and 15 b which have first and secondends where the first end of each vertical member 15 a, 15 b isoperatively connected to the main horizontal support bar 13 and wherethe second ends of each vertical member 15 a, 15 b are joined togetherby a horizontal top member 15 c. Each frame structure 15 may furthercomprise at least one horizontal cross member 15 d which is attachedbetween the two vertical members 15 a, 15 b at a point intermediate thetwo ends of the vertical members 15 a and 15 b. Each frame structure 15may be fabricated from any suitable lightweight material such as tubularpolyvinylchloride or aluminum materials.

The operative connection between each frame structure 15 and the mainhorizontal support bar 13 may be implemented in a number of waysincluding the use of nuts and bolts, sheet metal screws, etc. In oneembodiment of the present invention, the operative connection betweeneach frame structure 15 and the main horizontal support bar 13 may beeffected by interposing a torsion spring 50 between the main horizontalsupport bar 13 and the first ends of vertical members 15 a and 15 b asillustrated in FIG. 5.

With reference again to FIG. 1, a sport activity screen 10 according tothe present invention further comprises a player simulation screen 20which is attached to each frame structure. The player simulation screens20 may, for example, be fabricated from a semi-transparent plasticmaterial, and, in one embodiment, the semi-transparent plastic materialis selected from the group consisting of acrylic, plexiglas, lexan andpolycarbonate materials. Attachment of the player simulation screen tothe frame structure may be effected in a number of ways, e.g., rivetingnuts and bolts, sheet metal screws or by using a Velcro type material.

With reference now to FIG. 2, each player simulation screen 20 in oneembodiment of the present invention has a top half 20 a and a bottomhalf 20 b, and the top and bottom halves are pivotally connected to oneanother, e.g., by hinges (not shown). This construction allows the tophalf 20 a of a player simulation screen 20 to be folded down asillustrated by the player simulation screen 20 which is second from theleft in FIG. 2. Additionally, in one embodiment of the present inventioneach top half is adjustable with respect to its respective bottom halfas illustrated in the leftmost player simulation screen in FIG. 2. Thisadjustability allows the height of the player simulation screen to beincreased to more accurately represent the expected size of competitivesports figures. When adjustability of the height of a player simulationscreen is desired, it is advantageous to use a Velcro type material toattach the player simulation screen to the frame structure.

Another embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 2B inwhich the player simulation screen 20 also comprises a top half 20 a anda bottom half 20 b. In this embodiment, each vertical member 15 a, 15 bof the frame structure 15 comprises two sections—15 a′ and 15 a″ in thecase of vertical member 15 a and 15 b′ and 15 b″ in the case of verticalmember 15 b. Vertical sections 15 a″ and 15 b″ which are attached to tophalf 20 a fit into and engage the vertical sections 15 a′ and 15 b′,respectively, which are attached to the bottom half 20 b. Thisembodiment permits the top half 20 a to be either engaged with ordisengaged from the bottom half 20 b. When the top half 20 a isdisengaged from the bottom half 20 b, the top half 20 a may be attachedto the bottom half 20 b, and such attachment may, for example, beeffected by utilizing snaps.

With reference again to FIG. 2A, each player simulation screen 20 maycomprise an area 22 on which information may be written. Area 22 may,for example, comprise a dry erase or chalk board.

A sports activity screen according to the present invention islightweight and may be easily moved from a storage facility to apractice field facility and vice versa. With reference to FIGS. 1 and 3,the hinge 19 allows a sports activity screen 10 according to the presentinvention to be folded and the transportation of the screen from oneplace to another may be facilitated by a wheel 40 which is in operativeattachment with the main horizontal support bar 13. In one embodiment,the wheel is located proximate the center of the main horizontal controlbar, while in another embodiment, the wheel is located proximate one endof the horizontal support bar. Additionally, handles 41 which areconnected to each end of the main horizontal control bar 13 alsofacilitate the movement of the sports activity screen from one locationto another.

With reference now to FIG. 4, in one embodiment of the present inventiona player simulation screen has a photograph or image of applied to theapplied to the material from which the screen is fabricated and it maybe optionally cut out to apply a life-size photograph of a player in thesport in which the screen is used. One example of this embodiment wouldbe to adhesively apply a life-size photograph 45 of a football player tothe player simulation screen this will allow the user to become familiarwith visual aspects of a real game situation.

The foregoing description has focused on use of the sport activityscreen of the present invention in football. However, it should bereadily apparent from the foregoing description that the sport activityscreen of the present invention may be utilized in a number of sportsbesides football including, but not limited to, baseball, hockey, tennisand golf.

1. A sport activity screen for use in a selected sport to simulate thepresence and position of actual players in that selected sport duringtraining and practice exercises, comprising: a base unit which comprisesa main horizontal support bar having two ends and a plurality of bracinglegs which are attached to the main horizontal support bar and whichsupport the main horizontal support bar; at least one frame structure,each said frame structure being operatively connected to the mainhorizontal support bar, each said frame structure comprising two spacedapart vertical members with first and second ends where the first end ofeach vertical member is operatively connected to the main horizontalsupport bar and where the second ends of each vertical member are joinedtogether by a horizontal top member; and a player simulation screenwhich is attached to each said frame structure.
 2. The sport activityscreen of claim 1 further comprising at least one horizontal crossmember which is attached between the two vertical members at a pointintermediate the two ends of the two vertical members.
 3. The sportactivity screen of claim 1, wherein it comprises a plurality of framestructures which are operatively connected to the main horizontalsupport bar at spaced intervals along the length of the main horizontalsupport bar.
 4. The sport activity screen of claim 3, wherein the mainhorizontal support bar comprises two sections which are operativelyconnected together by a hinge to permit the sport activity screen to bein either an open or a folded position.
 5. The sport activity screen ofclaim 4, wherein the hinge comprises a locking mechanism to keep themain horizontal support bar in an open position.
 6. The sport activityscreen of claim 4, wherein it further comprises a wheel assembly foroperative attachment to the main horizontal support bar.
 7. The sportactivity screen of claim 6, wherein the wheel assembly is attachedproximate the center of the main horizontal support bar.
 8. The sportactivity screen of claim 6, wherein the wheel assembly is attachedproximate an end of the main horizontal support bar.
 9. The sportactivity screen of claim 1, further comprising a handle operativelyconnected to each end of the main horizontal support bar.
 10. The sportactivity screen of claim 1, wherein each player simulation screen has atop half and a bottom half and wherein the top and bottom halves arepivotally connected to one another.
 11. The sport activity screen ofclaim 1, wherein each player simulation screen has a top half and abottom half and wherein the position of each top half is adjustable withrespect to its respective bottom half.
 12. The sport activity screen ofclaim 1, or in each player simulation screen as a top half and a bottomhalf and wherein the top half may be disengaged from the bottom half.13. The sport activity screen of claim 1, wherein each said framestructure is fabricated from a tubular polyvinyl chloride material. 14.The sport activity screen of claim 1, wherein each frame structure isfabricated from a tubular aluminum material.
 15. The sport activityscreen of claim 1, wherein each player simulation screen is fabricatedfrom a semi-transparent plastic material.
 16. The sport activity screenof claim 15, wherein the semi-transparent plastic material is selectedfrom the group consisting of acrylic, plexiglass, lexan and poly-carbon.17. The sport activity screen of claim 1, wherein each frame structureis operatively attached to the main horizontal support bar by tensionsprings which are interposed between the first end of each verticalmember and the main horizontal support bar.
 18. The sport activityscreen of claim 1, wherein each player simulation screen comprises anarea for writing information.
 19. The sport activity screen of claim 1,wherein the selected sport is football.
 20. A sport activity screen foruse in a selected sport to simulate the presence and position of actualplayers in that selected sport during training and practice exercises,comprising: a base unit which comprises a main horizontal support barcomprising two sections which are in hinged connection with one anotherand a plurality of bracing legs which are attached to each section andwhich support the main horizontal support bar; a plurality of framestructures which are operatively connected to the main horizontalsupport bar at spaced intervals along the length of the main horizontalsupport bar, each said frame structure comprising: (i) two spaced apartvertical members with first and second ends where the first end of eachvertical member is operatively connected to the main horizontal supportbar and where the second ends of each vertical member are joinedtogether by a horizontal top member, and (ii) at least one horizontalcross member which is attached between the two vertical members at apoint intermediate the two ends of the two vertical members; and aplayer simulation screen which is attached to each said frame structure.